Yatra unfazed by Gujarat poll results: Jairam Ramesh

BUNDI: All India Congress Committee general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was no impact of Gujarat assembly election results on Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Ramesh was addressing a press conference on Saturday noon at Arneta camp of Bharat Jodo Yatra in Keshoraipatan area of Bundi district, where the yatra halted for lunch break after finishing first leg of 94th day, that started from petrol pump in Gudli on Kota-Lalsot mega highway on Saturday morning around 8.40am.
Ramesh claimed they got clear majority with 40 seats in Himachal Pradesh, however, the elections in Gujarat were certainly disappointing for them and they got heavy setback this time in Gujarat election. "The heavy setback was because we were facing alliance of BJP with Aam Admi Party (AAP) and AIMIM and the aim of APP and AIMIM was the same - to cut the vote of Congress that led to heavy drop of vote share from 40% to 27%, in Gujarat and the 27% vote share was now a new base for the next five years and it was not difficult to reach 40% vote share in next five years," Ramesh said.
"The election results in Gujarat are disappointing for us. The vote share of Congress dropped from 40% to 27%. But 27% vote share is a foundation and it is not difficult for us to again increase the vote share to 40%," Jairam Ramesh said at a press conference in Bundi.
"BJP has got huge majority in Gujarat because of AAP and AIMIM, however, the misuse of central and state government machinery was also one of the reasons of their defeat," Ramesh further said.
Besides, the electoral bond showed that BJP spends 8-9 times more money in election in comparison to Congress party, he added.
He alleged also said that central and state government machinery was misused in Gujarat and no action was taken on Congress complaints against the use of a girl child by the BJP in the election campaign in Gujarat.
Ramesh claimed that Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is unfazed by the results of Gujarat assembly elections and said that analysis of the reasons behind the disappointing results in Gujarat will be done and suitable action will be taken.
"There is no impact of the Gujarat assembly election results on Bharat Jodo Yatra. Our enthusiasm is like it was before the results though there is some disappointment. There were a few shortcomings in the organisation, we have to see that...analysis will be done and action will be taken. Our party president knows what has to be done," he said.
The Congress leaders said that the "double-engine government" in Himachal Pradesh derailed and Congress got the mandate, which is a sort of booster dose for the party.
He said that the yatra is getting overwhelming response in Rajasthan.
Asked about attempt of self-immolation by a man during the yatra on Thursday in Kota, Rajasthan Congress spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said the matter was being probed. The man was mentally disturbed and attempted self-immolation to draw public attention, he said.
Notably, the 31-year-old man, identified as Kuldeep Sharma, a native of Bundi district, currently living in Kota city, had attempted self-immolation on Thursday morning while the yatra was passing through Rajiv Gandhi Nagar in Kota. However, he was saved by police and security personnel present on the spot.